How to Use a Pull Behind Dethatcher on a Riding Lawnmower

Excessive thatch blocks water from reaching grass roots.

Thatch exists at the bottom of grass on the soil level. It is a layer of dead grass stems, leaves and roots. Small amounts of lawn thatch are beneficial to regulate soil temperature, reduce soil compaction and keep water from evaporating. Thatch in larger amounts, however, can be detrimental to your lawn. A thick layer of 1/2 inch or more prevents water, fertilizer and nutrients from reaching the root zone of your lawn. Pull-behind dethatchers attach to the rear of a riding lawnmower and are easily operated by do-it-yourself gardeners. The best time to dethatch your lawn is in the spring after new grass is actively growing.

1

Mow your lawn with a riding lawnmower to a maximum height of 3 inches tall. Dethatchers work best if the grass is a shorter length.

2

Park a riding mower on level ground, turn it off and apply the parking brake. Grasp the hitch mount arms of a dethatcher and roll it toward the riding mower. Grasp the bolt on the top of the hitch mount with one hand. Turn the nut underneath counter clockwise to loosen it and remove it. Pull the bolt out from the top.

3

Insert the hitch mount arms over the riding mower hitch with one arm on top and one on bottom of the mower. Insert the bolt from the top and hold it in place with pliers. Screw the nut on the bottom with an adjustable wrench.

4

Grasp the lift handle on top of the dethatcher and lower it toward the lawnmower. The front and rear sets of tines should all be touching the ground. If they do not touch, loosen the rear and forward hex nuts and carriage bolts until they touch the ground.

5

Start the riding mower and pull the dethatcher behind it at a low speed. Travel over your lawn making passes from north to south. Then make passes over the entire lawn again in a west-to-east direction.

6

Remove the loose thatch with a rake and place the debris in lawn and leaf bags for disposal.

7

Water your lawn thoroughly with a garden hose and sprinkler to supply water to the newly exposed grass roots.

8

Distribute fertilizer one week later to supply the lawn with 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Irrigate the lawn deeply to encourage new growth.

Things You Will Need

Pliers

Adjustable wrench

Rake

Lawn and leaf bags

Garden hose

Sprinkler

Fertilizer

Tips

Do not engage the mower blades while using a dethatcher.

If the dethatcher is jumping over the ground instead of piercing the thatch, add weights on top of the shield. There are holes in the top to add blocks for weight and secure them with bungee cords.

Dethatchers are fairly inexpensive to purchase in relation to replanting your lawn.

Some tool rental companies carry pull-behind dethatchers.

Measure your lawn thatch with a ruler in midsummer. If it is 1/2 inch thick or more, dethatch your lawn again.

Warning

Do not allow bystanders when dethatching a lawn. The tines can contact small rocks and make projectiles out of them.